Week 10 - The healing continues
6 08 2008Everything seems to be coming along just perfectly. If there is anything I can say to those in the first 4-8 weeks it is one word - PATIENCE.
I (along with a bunch of other bloggers) wanted to rip that cast off and start the recovery process right away. But after going through 8 weeks in a cast I truly believe to you should be patient, let the body go through it natural healing process and once you get the last cast off, get going on the PT and active recovery process. You will not be running marathons anytime soon so take it easy.
This patience has paid off for me and I think my progress is fairly rapid. I’ve actually scaled things back a bit to make sure I don’t push it.
Right now:
- I walk with less of a limp every day (both feet straight ahead). Right now I can hide it well with some effort. The Achilles is still tight but that reduces every day and that leads to less of a limp.
- There still is a lot of left heel pain. This reminds me of my bout with plantar fasciitis. Whenever I’m on the computer I make sure to roll a golf ball under my foot and smush those areas out. I also ice my heels while watching TV and started ultrasounding it yesterday.
- I am riding my bike with more wattage every day. I’m up to 150 W (for 5 minutes). This was my easy pace wattage when I was healthy. But I was doing it for 4-6 hours at a time. I’m not going there yet with this injury. I’m still not clipping my left pedal in yet but it is getting there (no rush though).
- I’m drinking too much beer. That has got to stop. I think?
I think this progress all due to a bunch of factors:
1. My physio treatments - hydrotherapy, deep massage (extremely painful), ultrasound, and laser.
2. Staying consistent and doing my stretching, range of motion and other exercises.
3. Icing and ultrasound at home.
4. Wearing compression socks at night (sometimes during the day too) to reduce swelling while increasing blood flow in the area.
5. Riding the bike. This increases my range of motion big time, adds a bit of strength work, and burns a few calories too.
6. Reading everyone’s blogs and lots of insight and tips along the way.
I hope this is helpful. Happy healing to all. Thanks for reading.
Hoss
[...] admin wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptBut after going through 8 weeks in a cast I truly believe to you should be patient, let the body go through it natural healing process and once you get the last cast off, get going on the PT and active recovery process. … [...]
Hoss,
Nice to hear you are happy with your progress so far. I must agree with this process as well. I spend at least an hour and a half at PT starting with 10-15 on bike. Then deep massage, which is very painful, ultrasound, laser and electric stimulus therapy with the resistance band. I then finish up with weights for the quad/ham…After all of that I use heat therapy for 10-15 minutes. I feel better and stronger after each session.
At first I felt it was very tight lower on the achilles, but now it seems to be getting more loose and the tightness is moving up the leg. Do you get the same sensation?
I started driving 2 weeks ago and I welcome getting such an important aspect of my life back. I am FWB, but I use the boot most of the time when walking. I do test my gait without the boot and I see the progression as there is less of a limp each time.
I still can’t believe this happened to me, however I know that there is a lesson to be had with this entire experience. I feel that I am a better person and it has opened my eyes to aspects of my life that I took for granted. I think most people would feel the same way.
Good luck in your recovery and stop drinking too much beer!!!
To somewhat quote Homer Simpson, “Mmmmm beer!”
I’m enjoying it now because once I start heavy training again it will become scare once again. Single malts, well that is a different story. Feel free to come over and have a few with me at any time.
You got some intense PT going. I don’t do any of my exercises there. But you are at a different stage than me. I am not supposed to do any specific strength exercises yet. No tightness up the leg, but my heel just hurts more as I move around and stand on it.
Yes, this experience sucks but I am sure we’ve all learned a lot. Gaining more appreciation for family, and the smaller things in life that we probably took for granted before.
Be a true Canadian and drink beer!
I suggest Nickelbrook, Kawartha Lakes Brewery, Keith’s, Steamwhistle or Sleeman. Yup, all Canadian brews.
Dear Hoss, I´m very grateful to you reading your week after week rehab. information.
I´ve been operated with the same technique as yours but IN BOTH LEGS with a difference of twenty days between each surgery.
I´m now in my tenth week recovery, with no cast.
I´m doing some exercises with FT with both feet, the left one that was first operated is quite Ok, the wright one in still swollen.
I still not alloud to walk, probably if the evolution is OK ¨I´ll start in two weeks to do so but with crutches. ¨
Im a little fed up with all this, and more wshen I look forward and imagine all I still have to go trough for a final recovery
Thats why I feel so grateful to you because I can imagine which my next steps will be.
I don´t know when will I start with the bycicle and all the other exercises you do to gain stability, but I hope that it does not be to far away on time
I´ve gaine some punds to, so I started a diet last week.
Well again Thaks and I let you know of my improvements.
Norberto - Argentina